With their 13-6 win over Laney last week, the No. 10 Putnam County War Eagles are 5-0 for the second year in a row. Last season, they finished 9-2 for their first winning season since 2015, and they reached the playoffs for a second year in a row — the first time they’ve done that since 2010-11.
Shaun Pope took over as War Eagles coach in 2018 after serving the previous two seasons as an assistant under Kyle Gourley. Though last season’s win total was the War Eagles’ highest since going 9-3 in 2010, Pope didn’t believe the team had reached its ceiling, and challenged those returning in 2021 to work hard in the offseason.
“Just being better everyday,” Pope said. “That’s our main goal. Our standard is hashtag ‘Best,’ and be the best man you can be every day. We challenged them to get into the weight room and get stronger, because it’s a year-round program in that weight room. You’ve got to be really committed in the offseason and our guys were.”
The War Eagles won their first two games a combined 108-0 over Morgan County and Jasper County, then beat Social Circle 42-22 to round out their non-region schedule. They’ve won their Region 4 games over Westside and Laney by a combined 32-13.
If they can win their next two — this Friday at Oglethorpe County (1-3) and at home against Glenn Hills (0-3), they’ll have the same 7-0 record as last year when they faced the Jefferson County Warriors, who beat them 50-12 and knocked them from the rankings.
Pope expects his team will be more prepared this year for the Warriors, who have won Region 4 in each of the last three seasons.
“They’re not going to forget that butt-whooping we took last year,” Pope said. “We’re well aware. We knew we had to get physically stronger, and not just for Jefferson County. We want to compete on a state level...I think we’re stronger mentally and physically and that’s what it’s going to take to compete at a high level.”
For more from Pope, listen to Episode 31 of The Class 2A Blogcast.
The Rabun County Wildcats have reclaimed their position as the No. 1 team in 2A after Callaway lost to 4A’s unranked Thomas County Central. Fitzgerald, Thomasville and Bleckley County each moved up a spot, leaving the top five intact. The Nos. 6-10 teams remain in place.
Read the Week 6 recap here.
Here are the new rankings, with each team’s previous ranking and record in parenthesis.
1. (2) Rabun County (4-1)
2. (3) Fitzgerald (4-1)
3. (4) Thomasville (4-1)
4. (5) Bleckley County (5-0)
5. (1) Callaway (4-1)
6. (6) Jeff Davis (5-0)
7. (7) Dodge County (3-2)
8. (8) Washington County (4-0)
9. (9) Northeast (3-1)
10. (10) Putnam County (5-0)
In brief:
- In Region 6, the South Atlanta Hornets have done it again. The week after beating then-No. 5 Lovett, the Hornets beat Pace Academy for a second year in a row, this time 26-17. Hornets running back Keyjuan Brown had 266 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. The Hornets are 3-1, 2-0 in league play, and Pace Academy is 1-4, 1-2.
- Also in Region 6, the Columbia Eagles improved to 4-1, 3-0 with a 34-6 win over Towers, moving into sole possession in first place with a half-game lead over South Atlanta. Mark Brock covered the Eagles’ win for DeKalb Schools. Columbia and South Atlanta play in the regular season finale on Nov. 5.
- In Region 7 opener for both teams, the Dade County Wolverines beat the Pepperell Dragons 21-20 in a game they were projected to lose by 14. It was the first time the Wolverines had beaten the Dragons since 2013, and they’re 3-13 against Pepperell in the all-time series. Under second-year coach Jeff Poston, the Wolverines (3-1) have already surpassed last year’s win total, when they went 2-8, and they’re eying their first winning season and playoffs appearance since 2015. The Dragons are 1-4.
- Staying in Region 7, Chattooga improved to 2-2, 1-0 after beating Model 49-21, which dropped to 1-4. FYN Sports has coverage.
- Here’s the latest from the GHSA reclassification committee, as well minutes from the meeting, which took place Monday.
- Fitzgerald coach Tucker Pruitt was recently a guest on “Drive for the GHSA state title” show, which streams on NFHS Network.
- According to a GHSF Daily list, city schools Bremen, Vidalia and Thomasville, private schools Pace Academy and Lovett, and public schools KIPP and Laney are the 2A schools with the most out-of-zone students.
- Bleckley County’s T.J. Mays has been nominated by Recruit Georgia for last week’s top play.
- GHSF Daily’s top performers of the week can be found here and feature numerous names from 2A.
Follow the AJC’s Class 2A coverage and The Class 2A Blogcast on Twitter.
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